Air circulating device

ABSTRACT

AN AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE HAVING A SINGLE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO ROTATE BLADES CONNECTED PERPENDICULAR TO AND BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL ROTATING PLATES DRIVEN BY THE MOTOR. THE BLADES INTERSECT ON ONE EDGE TO DEFINE A CENTERLINE ABOUT WHICH THE BLADES ROTATE. AN ENCLOSURE IS PROVIDED TO ENCLOSE THE AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE. THE ENCLOSURE HAS AN AIR INLET AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE ENCLOSURE HAS AN AIR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE AIR OUTLET AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT OF THE ENCLOSURE.

June 6, 1972 H. B. NORMAN 3,667,872

AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1971 /6 Fig! INVENTOR. HARRY B. NORMAN 3,667,872 AIR CIRCULATING DEVICE Harry B. Norman, 7803 S. Saginaw Ave.,

. Chicago, 111. 60649 Filed Jan. 7, 1971, Ser. No. 104,651 Int. Cl. F0111 1/02; F04b 17/00, 35/04 us. or. 6 Claims I ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An air circulating device having a single electric motor to rotate blades connected perpendicular to and between two parallel rotating plates driven by the motor. The blades intersect on one edge to define a centerline about which the blades rotate. An enclosure is provided to enclose the air circulating device. The enclosure has an air inlet at the lower rear of the enclosure and a manually or automatically adjustable air outlet at the top of the front of the enclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an air circulating device. More specifically, it relates to an improved rotary fan type air circulating device. Air circulating devices or rotary fans have long been known in the art. A typical rotary fan is shown in Walker Pat. No. 353,994. Walker discloses an improvement to reduce the noise levels on a rotary fan. A fan is shown with air inlets on the side with a unidirectional outlet for air. A rotary fan is also illustrated in Cheviron Pat. 3,026,401 for an electric defroster. For the most part, rotary fans have not found widespread use in household applications.

Axial flow fans, on the other hand, have found much use in households when placed in windows or used in door transoms. Axial flow fans, however, when placed on the floor, do not circulate the air as effectively as window units. Normally, the fan must be positioned in some way to set up flows of air from one room to another which necessitates placing the axial flow fan near a door, passageway, etc., which tends to be cumbersome and dangerously attractive to children. ,The present invention has utility as a floor mounted unit or a window unit, and due to the large blade or planar surface area rotated, it can be conveniently located in corners or out of the traveled path.

Also, in axial flow fans, the driection of air flow is coincident with the axis of rotation of the fan blade. The present invention allows adjustment of the direction of air flow manually or automatically through the use of louvers without changing the axial alignment of the fan blades. This results since the air flows perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the blades, the direction of air flow being substantially tangential to the periphery of the cylindrical shape defined by the rotating blades. The adjustable louvers can be connected to the electric motor shaft by suitable cam and following means so as to automatically move continuously while the planar surfaces are rotating to insure distribution of the air While avoiding an attractive nuisance to children.

Use of the present invention brings to an urban dweller the convenience of circulating air without the worries associated with a cumbersome passage-blocking axial flow fan or a dangerous oscillating fan blade. The device is not limited to floor mounted applications, and can be used in a window or door transom as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An air circulating device having two parallel plates which rotate about a centerline axis perpendicular to and between the two plates. A plurality of rigid planar mem- Patented June 6, 1972 bers are located perpendicular to the two parallel plates. Each planar member has one side connected to all the other planar members at the centerline axis extending between the two parallel plates. The planar surfaces are connected at their ends to the parallel plates. Single electric motor driving means are provided for rotating at least one of the parallel plates, thereby driving the planar surfaces connected to the plates and thereby causing circulation of air. The rotating planar surfaces are enclosed, the enclosure having louvers on the front and back. The enclosure cooperates with the rotating surfaces to create and allow either manual or automatic adjustment of air flow direction. The louvers in the rear are set to obtain optimum air flow while the device is rotating its planar surfaces about its centerline.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device to circulate air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air circulation device which is simple and economically constructed, yet effective in circulating air.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary fan which has both automatic and manual adjustable means to direct air flow therefrom, without the movement of the device itself.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be set forth in greater detail in the description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawings comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the air circulating device, with the enclosure front and top, sectioned showing the rotating planar surfaces and their common centerline axis;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the air circulating device showing the louvers on the front of the enclosure;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the air circulating device taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 showing the rotating planar surfaces, the direction of rotation and the location of the louvers; and

'FIG. 4 is an enlarged 'view of the adjustable window DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the FIGS., wherein like numbers refer to like parts, in FIG. 1 the air circulating device With portions of the front and top cover cut away, is shown generally as 10. Vertical parallel plates 12A and 12B are rotatably mounted along horizontal centerline 13 extending perpendicular to and between plates 12A and 12B. Plates 12A and 12B are rotatably mounted in side walls 14 and 16 of the device 10. Rigid planar surfaces 18A, 18B and are shown substantially perpendicular to plates 12A and 12B and are connected therebetween. Planar surfaces 18A, 18B and 18C all have one side connected to all the other planar surfaces, the line defined by the intersection of planar surfaces 18A, 18B and 18C corresponding to the horizontal centerline 13 extending between plates 12A and 12B.

A reversible electric motor 20 is located within side wall 16 and is connected to plate 12A to rotate it about centerline 13, extending between plates 12A and 12B. Planar surfaces 18A, 18B and 180 may be of solid construction as in 18A, or alternately, be mounted by extensions 19A and 19B on each planar surface to the centerline 13 as shown on surface 18B. It should be understood that centerline 13 may be either in a horizontal or vertically' disposed axis with reversible motor '20 located on the side or bottom, respectively.

An enclosure With louvers as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 cooperates with the rotating surfaces to create and direct the flow of air generated by rotating blades 18A, 18B and 18C. The enclosure is constructed of sheet metal but could be constructed of plastic to reduce the overall weight. A front wall 30 and a rear wall 40 along with sides 14 and 16 and a top 50 and a bottom 60 define planar surface rotating chamber 35. As described herein, the enclosure is 18 inches-in height, 24 inches in width, and 18 inches deep. Front-wall 30 has outlet louvers 32 in its upper two-thirds portion which cover an area of 16 inches by 12 inches, or

192 square'inches. Outlet louvers 32 may all be located horizontally, or, alternatively, one-half of the louvers may be horizontal with the second half vertical to aid in distribution of the outward flowing air. The louvers are adjustable by either louver adjustment knob 34 or by automatic means as will be hereinafter described. Rear wall 40 has fixed inlet louvers 42 as best seen in FIG; 3 which cover'the lower one-third of rear wall 40. The inlet louvers measure 6 inches by 16 inches with the area of inlet louvers thus being 96 square inches. The louvers 32 in the front of the enclosure consist of two horizontal sections, which move independently of each other. Louvers 32 are so positioned to direct the flow of air forced through them by the surfaces 18A, 18B and 18C. By turning manual adjustment knob 34, both sets of louvers 32 can be varied to direct the flow of air as desired. A mechanical cam and follower arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 is connected between the adjustable louvers 32, and rotating plate 1213. Cam 42 is driven by gear 44 shown attached to plate 12B. Cam 42 is connected to louvers 32 by arms 46 to provide continuously moving louvers for distribution of air in all directions.

Louvers 32 are mounted so as to rotate about a longitudinal axis 48 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The louvers are connected together at their outside end corners by rods 49. As plate 12B is rotated by electric motor 20, gear 44 turns driving cam 42. Arm 46 connected between cam 42 and one louver 32 moves said louver in a rocking motion about axis 48. When one louver 32 moves, rods 49 connected to the other louvers cause the entire set of louvers to move. As discussed before, there are two sets of louvers 32 on the front 30 of the enclosure, a top section and a bottom section which are driven by arms 46A and 46B, respectively. In the floor mounted embodiment, the top 50 can also have louvers 52 adjustable by louver adjustment knob 34 or by a cam and follower connection.

A start-stop switch 36 and a fan speed control 38 are shown in the upper right hand corner of the front of the enclosure. Manual adjustment knob 34 and shaft 39 connected thereto are shown located on side 14. The knob 34 and shaft 39 with cam 42 mounted thereon can be slid in groove 49 into engagement with gear 44. Knob 34, shaft 39 and hence cam 42 can also be slid to the other end of groove 49 to allow manual adjustment of the louvers 32. While cam 42 is shown as approximately the same size as gear 44 for illustration purposes, the gear ratio is normally about 20 to 1 for a 1200 r.p.m. constant speed A. C. motor and would be higher if slower movement of the louvers was desired. Of course, the ratio would depend upon the speed of the motor used.

Means are illustrated for transporting the device. Wheels and frame 37 as shown allow movement of the device across the floor, or aid in the installment of the device in a window frame. It should be understood that a housing with openings for inlet louvers as. will be hereinafter described may be permanently attached to the window frame which accepts the enclosure when mounting the device in a window. A bar 41 securedto the frame 37 aids when handling and moving the device.

FIG. 3 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 shows an intering in the rear louvers 42 in the rear, being forced by.

planar surfaces 18A, 18B and 18C forward and exiting through adjustable louvers 32. The flow of air is perpendicular .to the axis of rotation and is tangential to thefend of the rotating blades 18. This is advantageous since it allows a wide selection of air flow direction. This is especially advantageous when used in combination with reversible motor 20 as will be hereinafter discussed.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the adjustable window mounting apparatus 62 of the present invention. FIG. 13 shows the recess 64 for the device .to rest on a window sill. The device is secured in the window frame by adjustable device 66 gripping the window pane frame 68 which slides into opening 70. Y

OPERATION By electric motor 20 rotating plate 12A, planar surfaces 18A, 18B and 18C attached to plates 12A and 12B are caused to rotate about centerline axis 13. As the planar surfaces 18A, 18B and 18C sweep past the fixed inlet louvers 42 in the rear, a vacuum is created as the air-is forced forward and the outside air. rushes in tofill the void. l Air is forced around the planar surface rotating chamber 35 and out the adjustable outlet louvers 32. The louvers 32 are either manually or.automatica1ly adjustable depending on the mode, selectedwith knob 39 as hereinbefore discussed.

The fan also can be used to exhaust a room as well as to introduce fresh air. For example, a wide selection Ofair flow directions allows cool outside air to be directed toward .the ceiling and, due to the natural phenomena of hot air rising due to differences in density, the coolair which was directed toward the ceiling drops causing the hot air to rise. Likewise, the 0001 outside air can be directed downward, when so desired, causing-the warm air to rise. In either event, aircirculation is more effective through the advantages of the wide direction of airflow. automatically adjustable louvers and natural air flow practices. In addition, by reversing the direction of motor rotation and movably adjusting louvers 32, the device can efiiciently exhaust air from a stuify room. 1

While presently preferred forms of the inventionhave been described for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. An air circulating device having first and second spaced parallel plates, means for rotatably mounting said first and second plates for rotation about a centerline axis extending perpendicular to and between said fi'rst and second plates; r Y

a plurality of rigid planar members substantially per pendicular to said first and second parallel plates, said planar members having one *side connected to the other planar members at said centerline 'axis, said planar members being connected to said first and second parallel plates for rotation in fixed relationship about said centerline axis, said plurality of planar surfaces comprising three blades for provid ing air circulation; means .fordriving at least one of said first and second 1 plates and said'connected planar'members continuously about said centerline axis, said means for driving comprising a single electric motor;

-means for enclosing said rotating planarsurfaces comprising top, bottom, sides, back and front, said back and front having inlet and adjustable outlet ducts respectively, said inlet duct in said back cooperating with said rotating planar surfaces to establish a partial vacuum to create ai-r flow-in, and said rotating planar surfaces cooperating with said adjustable outlet ducts in said front to direct the flow of air out in a direction substantially perpendicular to said centerline axis.

-2. An air circulating device as disclosed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable outlet ducts in said front are connected to said planar surface drive motor whereby said outlet ducts in said front move automatically to alter the direction of discharged air.

3. An air circulating device as described in claim 1 wherein said single electric motor is reversible.

4. An air circulating device as described in claim 1 wherein said inlet duct area is 96 square inches and said outlet duct is 192 square inches.

5. An air circulating device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for enclosing said rotating planar surfaces comprising top, bottom, sides, back and front are made of sheet metal.

6. An air circulating device as described in claim 1 wherein said means for enclosing said rotating planar surfaces comprising top, bottom, sides, back and front are made of plastic.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1933 Anderson 417--423 R 4/1936 Fox 417-427 R U.S. Cl. X.R. 415--202 

